Reluctant role model Donadoni

Roberto Donadoni has played down his refusal to criticise some questionable refereeing from the weekend. “I don’t care if I’m followed.”

Roberto Donadoni has played down his refusal to criticise some questionable refereeing from the weekend. “I don’t care if I’m followed.”

Parma saw a penalty awarded against them in a 2-2 draw with Genoa[12] on Saturday for what replays suggested was an involuntary handball.

In a weekend notable for controversial refereeing[13] and subsequently strong protests from Coaches, Presidents and players, Donadoni has been picked out for not raising an issue post-match at Marassi when it was expected.

“I don’t care if my example if followed,” insisted the former Italy CT on Tuesday.

“It’s just that I am interested in what is dependent on me - for the general improvement of the team - and not other issues that the club may be interested in.

“I think only about doing my job with professionalism and a sense of conscience.”

After facing former employers Genoa in Week 25, Week 26 is another reunion for Donadoni, as he welcomes Napoli to Emilia-Romagna on Sunday.

“Napoli are doing well and after their success in the Champions League they have great motivation. Again, however, we must not think too much about others and continue to work only on ourselves and our motivations.

“It is a question of mentality. I would say that the attitude of the team on Saturday [at Genoa] was positive. The road taken is the right one, now we want continuity.”

Against the Grifone, Parma surrendered a two-goal lead in the final 15 minutes of play.

“It is clear that a team in their situation will do everything possible to retrieve the disadvantage - we were not so good at what we did until recently. Perhaps it was because we thought it had been done, just minutes from the end.

“But this should not happen and we must also improve on this aspect. We do not look for alibis and only work to improve.”